As a writer for GEARS Magazine, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many successful transmission company owners. I usually write shop profiles about their shops, but the magazine’s Managing Editor Rodger Bland asked me to share the story of our family business, Gears Transmission.
I’m not going to apologize if some of what I share sounds like bragging. Afterall, I am the mama-hen, and I’m proud of what our family has accomplished. We own and operate Gears Transmission in Ringgold, Georgia, where dedication to craftsmanship and customer service drives every aspect of our business.
Today I’m excited to share the story of our recent expansion and how the combined effort exemplifies our family’s guiding principle, hard work. This story is not just about physical growth from an 8,000 square foot facility to one with a sprawling 30,000 square feet. It’s also about the spirit and determination that fueled this transformation. At Gears Transmission, what we’ve accomplished is a testament to what we teach our children – discipline and hard work can achieve any goal.
The decision to expand Gears Transmission was driven by a vision to bring more of our business operations in-house, focusing on machining and remanufacturing parts as well as researching and developing aftermarket solutions for OEM parts failures. CJ, my husband, along with our son, Jacob, were the chief architects of this expansion. Watching them pour their souls into this project has been nothing short of inspirational.
The construction of the machine shop, build room, and parts department was largely carried out by CJ and Jacob with dedicated help from Jordan Tittle and Tyler Phillips, two team members who share our vision. They labored tirelessly, handling everything from meticulously laying down our epoxy floors to constructing service counters and installing the drop ceiling throughout the build room. I joined in where I could like with painting and decorating, making sure every inch of our new space was an expression of us. Jordan’s commitment was particularly remarkable, staying late into the night alongside us to ensure every detail was perfect.
During our relentless expansion efforts, CJ suffered a serious table saw injury to his right hand – an incident that typically would have required immediate emergency room attention which would have set us back weeks. However, exemplifying his tenacious spirit, CJ refused to let this slow him down. Instead, leveraging my nursing background, he insisted that I treat him at home. Half-jokingly, he said, “If you don’t do it, I’ll just wrap it up with some duct tape, because I have work to do.” After ensuring that he was properly cared for, I couldn’t help but reflect on his stubborn dedication to our goals.
The expansion wasn’t just a matter of scaling up with a move from one site to the next; it involved juggling operations between our old and new locations. For several months, our business was split across the two sites, with staff and resources shuffling back and forth. There were countless late nights, sometimes turning into all-nighters. We pushed through exhaustion, running the business during the day and building our future at night.
Our new facility is magnificent, but one of the features I’m most proud of is the customer lobby and front counter, which spans 2,500 square feet. It’s carefully designed to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for our customers. The offices cover 3,000 square feet, providing our staff with a spacious and efficient working environment. The productivity heart of our operations lies in the 10,000 square foot shop work area, the 6,000 square foot machine shop where innovation happens, and the 5,000 square foot parts department. Additionally, a 3,500 square foot build room is dedicated to transmission remanufacturing, ensuring that every aspect of our service is impeccable.
Across all areas of our business, we emphasize the importance of incorporating our branding, guided by our company motto “Built Not Bought.” From the color schemes to the custom designs and logos, we meticulously integrate our brand identity into everything we create and present. This customization is crucial, as it not only strengthens our market identity but also underscores our commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Our branding is a true reflection of our hands-on, personalized workmanship, setting us apart in the industry.
Within the parts department, we’ve established BNB Parts, a venture that not only supports our in-house needs but also serves the community and beyond through local pickup and eCommerce solutions. This allows us to extend our reach and provide expertise directly to customers and other shops, ensuring they receive the best parts and services available.
Reflecting on our roots, Gears was born in the garage of our home in 2017. This is our third expansion since that humble beginning, and each phase has brought its own set of challenges and rewards. Jacob, who is only 18 and just graduated from high school this year, has been a significant part of this journey. Working side by side with his dad, he is learning every facet of the business, ready to carry the legacy forward. His dedication and passion make us incredibly proud, and it’s clear he shares our commitment to excellence.
Jacob has mastered everything construction related from flooring and finishing to installing drop ceilings. However, he’s also absorbing life and trade skills that come with working alongside a master craftsman like his father. There’s a special kind of education that happens when father and son work shoulder to shoulder, and Jacob is reaping the benefits of this unique apprenticeship every day.
Our sweet daughters, Alyxia, 14, and Jazlynn, 12, have also been a big help with our expansion efforts. They eagerly jumped in to assist with painting and offered a hand wherever needed, bringing extra joy and a true family feel to the whole project.
I have yet to find a challenge that CJ cannot tackle. An innovator and engineer at heart, he approaches every challenge with a solution already forming in his mind. Throughout our expansion, he has crafted stands and carts for the machining equipment, built a powder coating station and oven from scratch, and designed a custom welding table. Each project showcases his ability to not just envision but also execute complex designs with precision and creativity. In our eyes, CJ is like a modern-day Superman and has a remarkable knack for building anything he sets his mind to. He has an amazing ability to turn raw materials into masterful creations with ease. This experience has not only fortified our business but has also provided Jacob with a priceless legacy of knowledge and skill.
I’d like to introduce you to the dedicated team that keeps Gears Transmission running smoothly.
Tyler Phillips has been an integral part of Gears Transmission since we started it in our garage back in 2017. As the mastermind behind our heavy-duty diesel builds, Tyler plays a critical role not just in the workshop but in the daily operations of our shop. His expertise as one of our main builders has been instrumental in our success.
Our service advisors, Stephen Ables, Jon Owen, and our newest team member, Stevo Travis, each bring unique strengths to our front line. Stephen, who joined us in 2021, is known for his exceptional customer service skills. Jon, with his big personality, brings a wealth of knowledge with lift kits and heavy-duty vehicle upgrades. Stevo, who initially served Gears Transmission as a partner-vendor rep, has now joined our ranks full-time. His familiarity with our operations from the outside and now on the inside makes him a valuable addition, and we look forward to his training as a parts representative in our parts department.
In the build room, Kirk Thorpe and Jeff Yarborough are our skilled transmission builders. Kirk, who honed his skills in his father’s shop, brings a deep understanding of all makes and models, including imports, making him an indispensable asset. Jeff, although the newest builder on our team, has extensive experience in building various types of units. He also shares his expertise, serving as a tech support representative for ATRA.
Our R&R technicians, Alex Brown, Jordan Tittle, Xan Nicolou, and our son Jacob possess exemplary work ethics. Their dedication and skill are of paramount importance to our operations. We’ve also welcomed Trent Rich as our shop assistant, who not only keeps our shop areas tidy but is also training to become an R&R technician. Joedy Williams has just recently joined the team as the shop foreman. His enthusiasm is contagious within the team and we are proud to have him on board.
Together, our team functions like a big family. We rely on each other’s strengths and work closely to ensure that the gears of our shop keep turning smoothly. Each member not only contributes to our day-to-day success but also embodies the spirit of our motto “Built Not Bought.”
When I observe what we’ve built, it’s hard not to be overwhelmed with pride. The late nights, the tough decisions, the physical and mental exhaustion – all of it was worth it. Our family has always believed that if you want something, you work for it, you build it, and you do it with your whole heart. This expansion is not just a growth in square footage; it’s a milestone in our family’s life and in the lives of every person connected with Gears Transmission.
At the time of this writing, we’re still completing the finishing touches on our new facility and seeing the fruits of our labor is rewarding. This isn’t just a place of business – it’s an example for others of what can be achieved with vision and perseverance. It’s a space where we will continue to grow, innovate, and serve our community. The journey of Gears Transmission is far from over, but this chapter, filled with blood, sweat, and yes, Gears, is one we’ll always cherish. We look forward to what the future holds, confident that with hard work, anything is possible.
I hope you’ve found our story interesting. The process of telling our story was energizing for me. I expect that the other shops that I’ve written about have experienced the same great feelings. If you’d like to have your shop featured in a GEARS Magazine Shop Profile, just reach out to Dennis Madden by email at dmadden@atra.com.
